Defenceman Neil Nicholson played 39 games for the Oakland Seals and New York Islanders. He was an offensive-minded player who put up repeatable totals in the minors and Europe.

The native of Saint John, New Brunswick played junior with the Fredericton Red Wings and Halifax Junior Canadiens. After scoring 16 goals for the OHA's London Knights in 1968-69 he was chosen 65th overall by Oakland at the Amateur Draft. During his first three years as pro, Nicholson was a regular in the AHL with the Providence Reds and played two playoff games with the Seals in 1969-70.

On June 6, 1972, the young blueliner was claimed by the expansion New York Islanders in the Inter-League Draft. He played 30 games with the woeful Islanders and spent the rest of the year in the AHL with the New Haven Nighthawks. Nicholson dressed for eight NHL games the next season then spent nearly six years with the CHL's Fort Worth Texans. He reached double figures in goals four times and suited up for one last NHL game with the Islanders in 1977-78.

In 1979-80 Nicholson joined SC Langnau of the Swiss League where he played for two years before returning to North America. After playing a handful of games in the minors, he returned to Langnau to play a couple of more years before retiring in 1985.